Proyecto Tití is working hand-in-hand with local communities to develop and expand sustainable family businesses as a strategy to reduce reliance on forest resources for survival. In areas where critically endangered cotton-top tamarins live, families often depend on activities like cutting down trees for firewood or capturing wildlife for income. By creating alternative livelihood opportunities, Proyecto Tití empowers families to generate income in ways that protect the forest rather than exploit it—ensuring that both people and cotton-top tamarins can thrive for generations to come.
Sustainable Livelihoods Training for Conservation in Santa Catalina
In partnership with Fundación del Alto Magdalena, Proyecto Tití is strengthening sustainable livelihoods in communities near cotton-top tamarin habitats in Santa Catalina, Bolívar. This effort integrates conservation goals with family entrepreneurship, promoting economic alternatives that reduce pressure on tropical dry forests.
Empowering Families Through Local Enterprises
Since the launch of this initiative:
- 20 entrepreneurs from the communities of El Hobo and Los Colorados have been selected to participate based on their commitment to conservation and their active local businesses.
- These ventures include livestock rearing, food sales, small grocery stores, sewing and alterations, ice cream making, and other microenterprises rooted in the local economy.
Capacity Building and Business Support
As part of Tití Guardians—Proyecto Tití’s broader initiative that unites all of our sustainable livelihood programs—participants explored how their individual efforts contribute to the conservation of cotton-top tamarins and the protection of tropical dry forests. To strengthen this understanding, they visited Parque Natural Regional El Ceibal Mono Tití, where they observed cotton-top tamarins in the wild. This experience deepened their appreciation for local biodiversity and helped them see how protecting forests directly supports the sustainability of their own livelihoods.
Within the Tití Entrepreneurs program, participants engaged in a comprehensive series of workshops designed to enhance their business knowledge, adaptability, and long-term success. Training topics included:
- Family empowerment for entrepreneurship
- Adaptive business management
- Marketing and digital strategy
- Accounting, customer service, and business planning
The sessions were led by Dr. Trudis Ibarra Álvarez and U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, creating a dynamic exchange of ideas and providing participants with practical tools to strengthen their enterprises.
As a Tití Guardian, each Tití entrepreneur also signed a conservation agreement—a voluntary commitment to:
- Refrain from capturing, selling, or keeping cotton-top tamarins as pets
- Reduce the use of wood harvested from the forest for household or commercial purposes
- Support conservation education and promote wildlife-friendly practices within their communities
These agreements are regularly monitored and remain central to ensuring the long-term protection of the tropical dry forests that cotton-top tamarins depend on.
Investments and Monitoring
Each entrepreneur co-developed a tailored investment plan and received seed capital to strengthen their business operations. These investments are now being implemented and are monitored by Proyecto Tití to assess business growth, adherence to conservation agreements, and overall community impact.
Shared Goals and Measurable Impact
The program is designed to ensure that participating entrepreneurs achieve meaningful and lasting results. Its core objectives include:
- Increasing household income through strengthened family businesses
- Building capacity in business administration and management
- Ensuring compliance with conservation agreements that protect cotton-top tamarins and their habitat
- Improving quality of life and fostering community attitudes that support wildlife conservation
Through this integrated approach, Proyecto Tití continues to build a future where community well-being and conservation go hand in hand, ensuring that both people and cotton-top tamarins thrive together.